| Almost regardless of what you are planning to | | | | that they'll be safe and protected. Put yourself it |
| sell, be it your current venture in a business | | | | the customer's shoes and listen to what they'll |
| meeting or the every day promotion of your | | | | hear as you give your pitch. |
| product, your sales process will start with the | | | | Often it helps to make your opening pitch in the |
| pitch. Getting it right is the foot in the door that | | | | form of a question as it invites response and |
| gives you a chance to move forward with the | | | | therefore participation, which will more likely |
| sale, getting it wrong will almost certainly end | | | | engage a prospect; it is also less likely to leave |
| things prematurely. | | | | 'dead air' and uncomfortable silences at the end of |
| Your pitch is the introduction of whatever you are | | | | the pitch. |
| selling to your prospective buyer; it is the laying | | | | How you present your pitch it as important as |
| out of your wares for them to see and so must | | | | what you are saying. Slow and clear is always |
| give them the best view possible and catch their | | | | better as it allows the listener to absorb the |
| eye quickly before they walk on by. | | | | information and comes across less like a sales |
| It is vital to plan your pitch very carefully; have it | | | | pitch. If you are interrupted mid pitch with a |
| written down of course, but know it by heart, | | | | question, stop and listen to what is said and |
| and don't be afraid to modify it with experience; if | | | | address the points made, do not scramble to |
| something in the pitch is not working change it. Be | | | | continue with your scripted spiel, adapt and take |
| flexible and learn from what prospects are telling | | | | the interruption as a positive sign, work the rest |
| you. | | | | of the information in to the conversation later. |
| Try to include the most positive, relevant salient | | | | Try to make what you're saying conversational |
| points in as succinct a way as possible; if your | | | | rather than scripted, as is more likely to be |
| pitch is too long, you'll be interrupted before | | | | believed and you are less likely to be cut short. |
| you've said your piece, too short and you'll miss | | | | Above all view your pitch as your calling card, it is |
| out vital facts. | | | | usually the first time your audience will have heard |
| Include the benefits rather than the features in | | | | of you or your business and what you say and |
| your opening, to catch the prospect's attention; | | | | do will no doubt leave some impression, so try to |
| they may not really care that your firm is a | | | | make it as positive as possible regardless of the |
| member of a professional body, but they will care | | | | encounter's eventual out come. |